The last few days we were at Smith Rock were slow and uneventful. We did have a lot of smoke from the fires in the area, mainly from the Milli fire that is still burning out south of Sisters. It was nice to have a break after the eclipse that’s for sure.
This morning we hooked we said goodbye to Josie, hooked up the towed and headed north on Highway 97 toward the Columbia Gorge. We will be staying here at Memaloose State Park for a few days unwinding.
We arrived at the park about 2 PM since we took Highway 197 to get here. Lots of hills, steep grades and slow turns. About half way up I was wishing we had just taken 97 up to I-84. Won’t do that again.
September 2, 2017
Today we made a day trip over to Vancouver, WA to tour Fort Vancouver National Historic Site and the Vancouver National Historic Reserve. Built in 1825 by the Hudson Bay Company the fort served as the center of a vast fur trading network. The U. S. Army arrived in 1849 and the fort became Vancouver Barracks.
As always for us our first stop was at the visitors center. There we picked up a map, got our National Parks Passport Book stamped and saw a 20 minute film about the fort.
Next, we walked along Officers Row, admiring the 22 fully-restored homes lining the fort’s parade ground. They originally housed the officers who served at the Barracks but are now private homes with some being business offices. One of them is named for General George C. Marshall who served as the post commander and occupied the home from 1936 to 1938. The first house built on Officers Row is named after General Ulysses S. Grant. General Grant never lived in the house but was stationed there as a young captain. It is now a restaurant, The Eatery at the Grant House. We decided to have lunch at the Eatery but were really not very happy with our meal. ‘Nuff said.
Next stop on our tour was Fort Vancouver which was established by the British Hudson’s Bay Company to support the fur trading network throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Pearson Field is one of the oldest operating airfields in the United States and today operates as a busy municipal airport.
The Pearson Field Education Center tells the story of the airfield from the very early days on through World War II and beyond. There are several displays including a model of the Spruce Mill that produced the lumber necessary to build the early airplanes.
Officers Row
George Marshall House
The Grant House. The first house built on the Row.
Smith Rock Volunteers for the 2017 Eclipse.
Joyce & Linda
Mike & Patricia
Jerry, Marilyn, Stan and Joyce
Stan "The Man"
Stan "The Man"
Stan & Ray
Steve Leigh, Pieter & Margie
Ranger Josie & Joyce
Gotta throw in a grand baby picture or two.
Travis's first day at preschool.
Just for grins and something to do we made reservations for a paddle boat river tour.
September 3, 2015
This morning we got a call from the riverboat tour company to tell us that they were cancelling the days trip due to a new fire near Cascade Locks. In fact, some of the homes south of I-84 are under Stage 3 evacuation orders (Get Out Now).
We were getting a lot of smoke from that fire and it looked like there was no relief in sight. Here are some links to what is being called the Eagle Creek fire:
http://katu.com/news/local/eagle-creek-fire-explodes-forces-evacuations-i-84-closed-multnomah-falls-threatened
http://www.oregonlive.com/wildfires/index.ssf/2017/09/eagle_creek_fire_zero_percent.html
http://www.wweek.com/news/2017/09/04/hikers-say-the-columbia-river-gorge-is-burning-because-teenagers-were-tossing-firecrackers-off-a-cliff/
So with all of the smoke and the possibility of the fire spreading, we decided to leave Memaloose one day early and head on up to Hermiston.
September 5, 2017
We left Memaloose about 11 AM and after a stop in at Fred Myers in The Dalles for fuel (paid $2.76 a gallon) we made an uneventful run up to the Pioneer RV Park. We have stayed here several times in the past and have always enjoyed the Passport America discount.
After getting setup we had supper with Mike and Dorothy Clements who we have hosted with in Oregon State Parks. I will be attending the Hermiston Masonic Lodge tonight with Mike who is a Past Master of the lodge.
That's all for now folks.
Barry & Joyce
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